module specification

The Professional Consultancy / Project is a capstone module in which students will be required to undertake a business project aimed at enhancing their employability as well as providing a platform for further professional development.

This module requires students to undertake and write up an individual project that gives them the opportunity to not only consolidate their learning on the programme, but also to clearly apply their learning in a real-world context.  Furthermore, it will provide students with the opportunity to showcase their professional competences built throughout the programme.

If in employment students may choose to use a work-based consultancy project (subject to agreement from their employer). Alternatively, they may choose a project which is research-based.

Students will also be required to present their project via an on-line presentation or podcast. This module gives them the opportunity to demonstrate their professional credibility and to use their academic, business and technical skills in a professional context.

Professional Consultancy Project aims to:

1 Demonstrate the ability to utilise and contextualise knowledge by applying analytical skills to a business situation or problem
2 Demonstrate the ability to assemble a coherent and a sustained piece of writing that evaluates a business/project problem/solution
3 Create an opportunity to further develop a range of skills associated with research including analysis, interpretation, written expression, formal report writing, and self-managed study
4 Engage students on a complex, integrated activity that will consolidate and integrate previous skills and learning
5 Provide students with a ‘showcase’ opportunity that allows them to demonstrate their ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course to a significant and specialised task

MN5070 – The Practice of Consultancy or equivalent

This module builds on material covered in the course as well as on the module The Practice of Consultancy (MN5070). In addition to supervision, there will be three sessions per term will allow students to discuss methodologies and topics relevant to the module learning outcome LO1-LO4

3 sessions (learning sets) will be held per term (18 hours in total) to allow students to discuss queries, ask questions regarding their progress and support each other. This is in addition to supervision.

In addition to the summative elements above, the module contains the following formative elements:
1. Formative 1: Project Proposal Document (PPD) – you must submit an outline of your proposed project which will be formally agreed with your supervisor
2. Formative 2: Draft project –a draft of your project for feedback and direction

On-going support and feedback will be provided throughout the module, and it is expected that all aspects of the project will be recorded in your e-portfolio (TBD)

Formative elements do not count towards the final module grade.

Summative Element
The final submitted project can be either of the following:
• A work-Based Project
-  In order to undertake this option students must be in employment and be able to use or reference a work-based project within which they have significant involvement. Their employer must also agree that the chosen project can be used as a basis for the assessment submission.

• A Contemporary Business / Consultancy Report
- This option embraces research (primary and/or secondary) in meeting the project objectives and should be chosen if students are not in employment.

A 10 minute recorded visual presentation which evaluates the project process must also be submitted.

On successfully completing this module, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the main concepts, frameworks and processes that need to be considered when addressing an organisational project
2. Utilise appropriate research, analysis and project management skills
3. Take responsibility for initiating and controlling their own work and learning experience, demonstrating a high degree of personal effectiveness in order to manage their professional development
4. Source and utilise relevant information from a range of sources to support critical analysis, evaluation and problem solving

The completion of
• A 5,000 word individual project [80% of Module Weighting]
• A 10 minute presentation reflecting on the developmental process of the project or consultancy work [20% of Module Weighting]

Books and Texts

Gibson, A. (2015) A Mind for Business, 1ed, Harlow: Pearson

Hawkins, P., & Smith, N. (2013). Coaching, Mentoring And Organizational Consultancy: Supervision, Skills And Development. Maidenhead, McGraw-Hill Education. http://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1336599.

Helyer, R., (2010) The work-based learning student handbook. Palgrave Macmillan.

Van Bellegham, S. (2015) When Digital Becomes Human: The Transformation of Human Relationships, 1st ed, Harlow, Pearson

Armstrong, M. (2014) How to be an Even Better Manager, 7th ed, London: Kogan Page.

Coghlan, D. and Brannick, T., (2014). Doing action research in your own organization. Sage.

Barrow, C., Barrow, P. and Brown, R (2008) The Business Plan Workbook, 6th edition,
London: Kogan Page.

Cottrell, S., (2014) Dissertations and Project Reports: A Step By Step Guide, 1st edition, Palgrave MacMillan

Academic and Professional Articles

Journal of Higher Education, Skills and Work based Learning
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/heswbl

Journal of Management Learning
mlq.sagepub.com/ 

Academy of Management Learning and Education
http://aom.org/Publications/AMLE/Academy-of-Management-Learning---Education.aspx

Online Resources

A range of online resources will be used in support of the module that may change but would include such sites as:

International journal of e-portfolio
http://www.theijep.com/

Middlesex centre for work based learning
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-schools/institute-for-work-based-learning

FT.com